Statute before army integration impossible: Defense Minister

KATHMANDU, Oct 25: Defense Minister and CPN-UML leader Bidhya Devi Bhandari has said that a new constitution cannot be promulgated unless the integration and management of Maoist army combatants.



Addressing a gathering organised in Kathmandu on Monday to prepare for Nepal Sambat, she urged the UCPN (Maoist) to show maximum flexibility for the timely drafting of a constitution and claimed that the Maoist party is mainly responsible for the present political deadlock.[break]



The minister also said that her party took initiatives to legitimatise Nepal Sambat.



The gathering formed nine sub-committees to celebrate Nepal Sambat and constituted a 1,051-member main organising committee led by Nirmal Kuikel. Nepal Sambat, the new year of the Newar community, falls on November 7.

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